A male terminal fitting, a plate material therefor and a method of forming it

Abstract

 An object of the present invention is to provide a male terminal fitting capable of moderating a deformation of a contact portion resulting in a bend.
A male terminal fitting 1 formed by bending a flat metal plate worked into a specified shape includes a contact portion 2, a rectangular tube portion 4 formed to be wider than the contact portion 2, and a linking portion 3 provided between the contact portion 2 and the rectangular tube portion 4. Since the linking portion 3 is not connected with the front edge of the upper surface of the rectangular tube portion 4 over the entire width, bending resistance against an external force can be improved by increasing deflectability while holding down bending rigidity.

Description

A Male Terminal Fitting, A Plate Material Therefor And A Method Of Forming It

[0001] The present invention relates to a male terminal fitting, to a plate material therefore and to a method of forming a terminal fitting.

[0002] A generally known male terminal fitting is an integral assembly of a main portion in the form of a rectangular tube and a terminal contact portion projecting forward from the main portion for the contact with a female terminal fitting as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H07-192793. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, a male terminal fitting 100 includes a terminal contact portion 101 for the connection with a female terminal fitting, a main portion 103 in the form of a rectangular tube, a linking portion 102 as a connecting portion of the terminal contact portion 101 and the main portion 103, and a barrel portion 104 for the connection with a wire W (not shown).

[0003] However, if an external force acts on the terminal contact portion 101, stress concentrates, in some cases, on a boundary between the linking portion 102 and the terminal contact portion 102, thereby causing a bend beyond a resiliency limit at this boundary.

[0004] The present invention was developed in view of this problem and an object thereof is to increase the bending resistance of a male terminal fitting.

[0005] This object is solved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, there is provided a male terminal fitting, comprising:

a contact portion to be brought or bringable into contact with a female terminal fitting,

a tube portion (being preferably substantially rectangular or polygonal) located behind the contact portion and formed to be wider than the contact portion, and

a linking portion provided between the tube portion and the contact portion and gradually widened from the contact portion toward the tube portion,

wherein:

the linking portion includes a base surface portion substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion, one or more side surface portions substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion and standing from the base surface portion, and a ceiling surface portion substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion, and

an unconnected edge unconnected with the ceiling surface portion is formed at the front edge of the corresponding surface of the tube portion.

[0007] Accordingly, since the ceiling surface portion is not connected with the front edge of the corresponding surface of the tube portion over the entire width, bending rigidity is lower as compared to a case where the ceiling surface portion is connected over the entire width. Thus, the deflectability of the contact portion and/or of the linking portion can be increased when an external force acts on the contact portion.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube portion includes an engaging portion engageable with a locking portion formed in or at a cavity of a connector housing when the male terminal fitting is at least partly accommodated into the cavity.

[0009] Preferably, the ceiling surface portion is bent from one side surface portion toward the other side surface portion or the base surface portion.

[0010] According to a further preferred embodiment, there is provided a male terminal fitting, comprising:

a contact portion to be brought into contact with a female terminal fitting,

a rectangular tube portion substantially in the form of a rectangular tube, located behind the contact portion, including an engaging portion engageable with a locking portion formed in a cavity of a connector housing when the male terminal fitting is accommodated into the cavity, and formed to be wider than the contact portion, and

a linking portion provided between the rectangular tube portion and the contact portion and gradually widened from the contact portion toward the rectangular tube portion,

wherein:

the linking portion includes a bottom surface portion continuous with the contact portion and the rectangular tube portion, a pair of side surface portions continuous with the contact portion and the rectangular tube portion and standing from the bottom surface portion, and an upper surface portion continuous with the contact portion and the rectangular tube portion and bent from one side surface portion toward the other side surface portion, and

an unconnected edge unconnected with the upper surface portion is formed at the front edge of the upper surface of the rectangular tube portion.

[0011] Accordingly, since the upper surface portion is not connected with the front edge of the upper surface of the rectangular tube portion over the entire width, bending rigidity is lower as compared to a case where the upper surface portion is connected over the entire width. Thus, the deflectability of the contact portion can be increased when an external force acts on the contact portion.

[0012] Preferably, the ceiling or upper surface portion is formed to have the substantially same width as the contact portion, and the rear edge thereof is connected with part of the front edge of the upper or corresponding surface of the (preferably rectangular) tube portion.

[0013] Further preferably, a opening is defined adjacent to the unconnected edge, and the male terminal fitting is formed with a closing plate for at least partly closing, preferably substantially fully closing the opening.

[0014] Still further preferably, an upper opening is defined between an end edge of the upper surface portion and the upper edge of the side surface portion unconnected with the upper surface portion, and the male terminal fitting is formed with a closing plate for closing the upper opening.

[0015] Accordingly, since the upper surface portion is closed, the intrusion of an external matter or the like into the linking portion or the rectangular tube portion can be prevented.

[0016] Most preferably, the contact portion is formed from two or more plates members being folded so as to be at least partly placed one on the other.

[0017] According to the invention, there is further provided a plate material or blank for forming a male terminal fitting, in particular according to the invention or a preferred embodiment thereof, comprising:

an area for forming a contact portion to be brought into contact with a female terminal fitting,

an area for forming a tube portion located behind the contact portion and formed to be wider than the contact portion, and

an area for forming a linking portion provided between the tube portion and the contact portion and gradually widened from the contact portion toward the tube portion,

wherein the area for the linking portion is formed such that the linking portion includes a base surface portion substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion, one or more side surface portions substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion and standing from the base surface portion, and a ceiling surface portion substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion, and

wherein an unconnected edge unconnected with the ceiling surface portion is formed at the front edge of the corresponding surface of the tube portion.

[0018] According to the invention, there is further provided a method of forming a male terminal fitting, in particular according to the invention or a preferred embodiment thereof, comprising the following steps:

providing a plate material, in particular according to the invention or a preferred embodiment thereof,

bending the plate material such that a contact portion is formed to be brought into contact with a female terminal fitting,

providing a tube portion located behind the contact portion and formed to be wider than the contact portion, and

forming a linking portion between the tube portion and the contact portion and gradually widened from the contact portion toward the tube portion,

wherein:

the linking portion is formed such that the linking portion includes a base surface portion substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion, one or more side surface portions substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion and standing from the base surface portion, and a ceiling surface portion substantially continuous with the contact portion and the tube portion, and

an unconnected edge unconnected with the ceiling surface portion is formed at the front edge of the corresponding surface of the tube portion.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ceiling surface portion is bent from one side surface portion toward the other side surface portion or the base surface portion.

[0020] Most preferably, the ceiling surface portion is formed to have the substantially same width as the contact portion, and the rear edge thereof is connected with part of the front edge of the corresponding surface of the tube portion.

[0021] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may be combined to additional embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a male terminal fitting according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the male terminal fitting,

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the male terminal fitting,

FIG. 4 is a front view of the male terminal fitting,

FIG. 5 is a right side view of a male terminal fitting according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the male terminal fitting of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the male terminal fitting of FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a front view of the male terminal fitting of FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a male terminal fitting of prior art, and

FIG. 10 is a development of the male terminal fitting according to the invention.

<First Embodiment>

[0022] A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIG. 10. Reference is made to vertical direction in FIG. 4 concerning vertical direction VD (or a direction in which the wire barrels 5 and 6 open), to transverse direction in FIG. 4 concerning width direction WD, and to a direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 4 concerning forward and backward directions FBD, wherein a side of the male terminal fitting 1 to be connected with an unillustrated female terminal fitting (a side before the plane of FIG. 4) is referred to as front or a front side.

[0023] The male terminal fitting 1 of the first embodiment is formed preferably by bending a substantially flat conductive (preferably metal) plate 1 PM of a specified (predetermined or predeterminable) shape, and is to be connected with a wire W (not shown) by means of a insulation coating connection portion (preferably comprising an insulation barrel 6) to be connected (preferably crimped or bent or folded into connection) with an insulation coating of the wire W and/or a wire connection portion (preferably comprising a wire barrel 5) to be connected (preferably crimped or bent or folded into connection) with a core or conductive element at least partly exposed from the wire W, preferably from the insulation coating. A (preferably substantially rectangular or polygonal) tube portion 4 (preferably in the form of a substantially rectangular or polygonal tube) is formed in an intermediate position (preferably substantially in the middle) of the male terminal fitting 1, and a contact portion 2 projects forward of the (rectangular) tube portion 4 via a linking portion 3. Thus, the male terminal fitting 1 substantially has a shape long along forward and backward directions FBD as a whole, and can be at least partly accommodated into a cavity (not shown) of a connector housing (not shown).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, an engaging portion 8 engageable with a locking portion (not shown) provided in or at the cavity is formed at a front portion (preferably substantially at a front half) of the (rectangular) tube portion 4. A pair of front and rear grooves or cuts are formed in an outer surface of the (rectangular) tube portion 4 to at least partly extend substantially widthwise, preferably to extend over the substantially entire width, and an area between these grooves preferably is slightly lowered or displaced inwardly, thereby forming steps or a recessed portion. The engaging portion 8 is the front one of these steps with respect to an inserting direction ID of the terminal fitting into the housing. Further, at least one stabilizer 7 at least partly insertable into a guide groove (not shown) formed in or at the cavity is provided at a rear portion (preferably substantially at a rear half) of the (rectangular) tube portion 4. The stabilizer 7 is formed preferably by making a cut in part of the bottom surface of the rectangular tube portion 4 and bending the cut portion. The stabilizer 7 can prevent an erroneous insertion such as an upside-down insertion upon inserting the male terminal fitting 1 into the cavity.

[0025] Next, the construction of the contact portion 2 to be electrically connected with a female terminal fitting (not shown) is described. As shown in FIG. 10, the contact portion 2 is made of a first (lower) plate 2-1 located corresponding to or substantially on an extension of the bottom or base surfaces of the barrels 5, 6 and a second (upper) plate 2-2 substantially continuous with one lateral edge of the first (lower) plate 2-1, and the second (upper) plate 2-2 is to be bent along a bending line shown in broken line in FIG. 10 to be placed on the first (lower) plate 2-1, thereby forming at least part of the contact portion 2. The contact portion 2 includes an introducing portion 2A located at or close to the leading end and having substantially closely held second and first (upper and lower) parts, a principal portion 2B substantially continuous behind the introducing portion 2A and defining a clearance preferably of a uniform height between two second and first (upper and lower) plates, and an inclined or widening portion 2C substantially continuous behind the principal portion 2B while defining a similar clearance and moderately sloped up or outward toward the back or towards the tube portion 4. As is clear from the drawings, the width and/or the vertical dimension of the contact portion 2 are (preferably both) smaller than those of the rectangular tube portion 4.

[0026] Next, the construction of the linking portion 3 provided between the contact portion 2 and the (rectangular) tube portion 4 is described. The linking portion 3 includes a bottom or base surface portion 9 preferably substantially continuous with the first (lower) plate 2-1 of the contact portion 2 and extending toward the (rectangular) tube portion 4. The bottom or base surface portion 9 is gradually widened toward the (rectangular) tube portion 4. One or more, preferably a pair of side surface portions 10, 11 are substantially continuous with the one or both opposite widthwise edges of the bottom surface portion 9 and preferably gradually widened to be substantially continuous with the side surface portions of the (rectangular) tube portion 4. Further, an upper or ceiling surface portion 12 is provided (directly or indirectly) at or close to one widthwise edge of one side surface portion 11 preferably substantially opposite to the bottom surface portion 9. This upper or ceiling surface portion 12 has a uniform width and has an inclination angle to a longitudinal axis of the terminal fitting 1 (or the forward and backward directions FBD) which is smaller that than of the bottom or base portion 9 and/or the side surface portion(s) 10 and/or 11, and preferably extends substantially in forward and backward directions FBD, wherein the front end thereof is substantially continuous with the second (upper) plate 2-2 and the rear end thereof is substantially continuous with the upper or ceiling surface of the (rectangular) tube portion 4. In this embodiment, the width of the rear edge of the upper or ceiling surface portion 12 is set to be smaller than, preferably substantially half the width of the front edge of the upper or ceiling surface 4US of the (rectangular) tube portion 4, whereby a part of the front edge of the upper or ceiling surface 4US of the rectangular tube portion 4 that is not connected with the upper surface portion 12 of the linking portion 3 constitutes an unconnected edge 13. Therefore, an opening 15 is formed in or at the linking portion 3 by the unconnected edge 13, an end edge of the upper or ceiling surface portion 12 and/or the upper edge of the other side surface portion 10.

[0027] According to the first embodiment thus constructed, the upper surface portion 12 of the linking portion 3 is partly not connected with the front edge of a corresponding part of the (rectangular) tube portion 4, i.e. the unconnected edge 13 is set. Thus, as compared to a case where the upper surface portion 12 is connected with the front edge of the upper surface 4US of the rectangular tube portion 4 over the entire width without forming the unconnected edge 13, the bending rigidity of the contact portion 2 is reduced, thereby improving the deflectability or bendability of the contact portion 2. Therefore, even if an external force acts on the contact portion 2, there is substantially no likelihood of producing a crack or the like due to the concentration of a stress and a deformation of the contact portion 2 resulting in a bend can be suppressed.

<Second Embodiment>

[0028] Next, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. In the second embodiment, the opening 15 formed in the linking portion 3 in the first embodiment is at least partly closed, preferably substantially fully closed by a closing plate 14. The other construction is same or similar to the first embodiment and is not described by being identified by the same reference numerals in FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0029] The closing plate 14 having a shape at least partly, preferably substantially fully conforming to that of the opening 15 is formed to be substantially continuous with the upper edge of the side surface portion of the linking portion 3 that is not connected with the upper surface portion 12. It should be noted that the second embodiment does not differ from the first embodiment in that the front edge of the upper surface 4US of the rectangular tube portion 4 has the unconnected edge irrespective of whether or not this front edge is coupled to the closing plate 14.

[0030] As described above, according to the second preferred embodiment, there is an effect of preventing an external matter or the like from intruding into the linking portion 3 or the rectangular tube portion 4 in addition to the effects of the first embodiment since no opening is left in the upper surface portion 12 of the linking portion 3.

[0031] Accordingly, to provide a male terminal fitting capable of moderating a deformation of a contact portion resulting in a bend, a male terminal fitting 1 formed preferably by bending a substantially flat conductive (preferably metal) plate worked into a specified (predetermined or predeterminable) shape includes a contact portion 2, a (preferably substantially rectangular or polygonal) tube portion 4 formed to be wider than the contact portion 2, and a linking portion 3 provided between the contact portion 2 and the (rectangular) tube portion 4. Since the linking portion 3 is not connected with the front edge of one of the surfaces, preferably the upper or ceiling surface 4US of the (rectangular) tube portion 4 over the entire width, bending resistance against an external force can be improved by increasing deflectability while holding down bending rigidity.

<Other Embodiments>

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiments. For example, the following embodiment is also embraced by the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Beside the following embodiment, various changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the claims.

(1) Although the unconnected edge 13 is formed at part of the front edge of the upper surface of the rectangular tube portion 4 in the first or second embodiment, it may be formed over the substantially entire width of the front edge of the upper surface of the rectangular tube portion 4.

(2) Although the tube portion according to the above preferably has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to tube portions having other shapes, particularly substantially polygonal (triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.) shapes.

(3) Although the above terminal fitting is connected to the wire preferably by means of one or more barrels, it should be understood that any other means of connection may be used such as insulation displacement, soldering, (ultrasonic) welding, etc.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0033] 

1

... male terminal fitting

2

... contact portion

3

... linking portion

4

... rectangular/polygonal tube portion (tube portion)

8

... engaging portion

9

... bottom or base surface portion

10

... side surface portion

11

... side surface portion

12

... upper or ceiling surface portion

13

... unconnected edge

14

... closing plate

Claims

1. A male terminal fitting, comprising:

a contact portion (2) to be brought into contact with a female terminal fitting,

a tube portion (4) located behind the contact portion (2) and formed to be wider than the contact portion (2), and

a linking portion (3) provided between the tube portion (4) and the contact portion (2) and gradually widened from the contact portion (2) toward the tube portion (4),

wherein:

the linking portion (3) includes a base surface portion (9) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4), one or more side surface portions (10; 11) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4) and standing from the base surface portion (9), and a ceiling surface portion (12) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4), and

an unconnected edge (13) unconnected with the ceiling surface portion (12) is formed at the front edge of the corresponding surface (4US) of the tube portion (4).

2. A male terminal fitting according to claim 1, wherein the tube portion (4) includes an engaging portion (8) engageable with a locking portion formed in or at a cavity of a connector housing when the male terminal fitting (1) is at least partly accommodated into the cavity.

3. A male terminal fitting according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the ceiling surface portion (12) is bent from one side surface portion (10) toward the other side surface portion (11) or the base surface portion (9).

4. A male terminal fitting according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the ceiling surface portion (12) is formed to have the substantially same width as the contact portion (2), and the rear edge thereof is connected with part of the front edge of the corresponding surface (4US) of the tube portion (4).

5. A male terminal fitting according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a opening (15) is defined adjacent to the unconnected edge (13), and the male terminal fitting (1) is formed with a closing plate (14) for at least partly closing, preferably substantially fully closing the opening (15).

6. A male terminal fitting according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the contact portion (2) is formed from two or more plates members (2-1, 2-2) being folded so as to be at least partly placed one on the other.

7. A plate material (1 PM) for forming a male terminal fitting (1), comprising:

an area for forming a contact portion (2) to be brought into contact with a female terminal fitting,

an area for forming a tube portion (4) located behind the contact portion (2) and formed to be wider than the contact portion (2), and

an area for forming a linking portion (3) provided between the tube portion (4) and the contact portion (2) and gradually widened from the contact portion (2) toward the tube portion (4),

wherein the area for the linking portion (3) is formed such that the linking portion (3) includes a base surface portion (9) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4), one or more side surface portions (10; 11) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4) and standing from the base surface portion (9), and a ceiling surface portion (12) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4), and

wherein an unconnected edge (13) unconnected with the ceiling surface portion (12) is formed at the front edge of the corresponding surface (4US) of the tube portion (4).

8. A method of forming a male terminal fitting (1), comprising the following steps:

providing a plate material (1 PM)

bending the plate material such that a contact portion (2) is formed to be brought into contact with a female terminal fitting,

providing a tube portion (4) located behind the contact portion (2) and formed to be wider than the contact portion (2), and

forming a linking portion (3) between the tube portion (4) and the contact portion (2) and gradually widened from the contact portion (2) toward the tube portion (4),

wherein:

the linking portion (3) is formed such that the linking portion (3) includes a base surface portion (9) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4), one or more side surface portions (10; 11) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4) and standing from the base surface portion (9), and a ceiling surface portion (12) substantially continuous with the contact portion (2) and the tube portion (4), and

an unconnected edge (13) unconnected with the ceiling surface portion (12) is formed at the front edge of the corresponding surface (4US) of the tube portion (4).

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the ceiling surface portion (12) is bent from one side surface portion (10) toward the other side surface portion (11) or the base surface portion (9).

10. A method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the ceiling surface portion (12) is formed to have the substantially same width as the contact portion (2), and the rear edge thereof is connected with part of the front edge of the corresponding surface (4US) of the tube portion (4).

Drawing